Zigbee

What is Zigbee? Zigbee based projects? Why should I use Zigbee for my project?

“ZigBee is a specification for a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radios based on an IEEE 802 standard for personal area networks. Applications include wireless light switches, electrical meters with in-home-displays, and other consumer and industrial equipment that requires short-range wireless transfer of data at relatively low rates. The technology defined by the ZigBee specification is intended to be simpler and less expensive than other WPANs, such as Bluetooth. ZigBee is targeted at radio-frequency (RF) applications that require a low data rate, long battery life, and secure networking.” – Wikipedia

“ZigBee is the only standards-based wireless technology designed to address the unique needs of low-cost, low-power wireless sensor and control networks in just about any market. Since ZigBee can be used almost anywhere, is easy to implement and needs little power to operate, the opportunity for growth into new markets, as well as innovation in existing markets, is limitless.” – Zigbee Alliance

Simply said Zigbee is a low cost, low power, mostly short distance wireless communication technology, that is great for many wireless applications. For students though this is easily the best wireless communication technology for projects. Not just for ECE projects, also for other departments like EEE, E&I and other associated departments too. Zigbee projects can be anything ranging from simple remote controls for anything to complex AD Hoc networks and WSN (Wireless sensor networks). Projects based on Zigbee are virtually infinite, because the technology is so versatile.

In our view Zigbee is the most promising wireless communication technologies for students projects. There are many reasons (technical and non technical) why that is so, some of them are

High Reliability

Good Data rate

Easy to Use

Low Cost

Easy Availability

Infinite Possibilities

Let us look at these advantages in a little more details…

High reliability: Zigbee is based on the popular IEEE 802.15.4 standard that deals with WPAN (Wireless personal area networking). This IEEE standard is a global standard and is a very comprehensive and detailed standard, hence Zigbee is based on a solid global standard. Also Zigbee uses modulation technologies like O-QPSK, DSSS and CSMA/CA which are among the best in the respective domains. Hence Projects based on Zigbee tend to be more reliable and easy to demonstrate anywhere.

Good Data Rate: Zigbee can transmit and receive data at up to 250kbps. This, on the face of it might not look like a very good data speed, when compared to other wireless technologies, but for the applications that Zigbee is designed for this is more than adequate. Zigbee projects and commercial applications are things like sensor data acquisition, or remote control, or telemetry etc. For these types of final year projects Zigbee is almost always the best option.

Easy to Use: This is one of the key reasons why Zigbee is popular for student projects like final year projects. Most Zigbee modules can directly be interfaced to microcontrollers, processors and even computers. Also most Zigbee modules are available with a direct UART communication interface, this makes communication even more easier. This is one of the main reasons why Zigbee is popularly used for wireless communication projects.

Low Cost: While there are other technologies like Blue Tooth and WiFi that can also be used for wireless communication projects, Zigbee is by far the cheapest to use among these technologies. Although there are cheaper options available for wireless communication projects, like FM, FSK, ASK etc these technologies are seldom as reliable as Zigbee. Hence projects using Zigbee tend to be cheaer than lets say projects based on bluetooth or even WiFi.

Easy Availability: For a student project this is very important factor, because a technology might be great, but its worthless to a student if it is not easily accessible. These days many Zigbee modules are available easily in most metros in India, like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. There are many modules made by various manufacturers like Digi, RFM, Jennic etc. The most popular ones in India are the Digi modules. We at Ensemble Technologies are one of the direct importers of Digi products and have found them to be extremely reliable.

Infinite Possibilities: Because of the flexible architecture of Zigbee protocol, Zigbee can be used for any type of wireless communication like simple point to point communication, Star network, Mesh Network, Tree Networks etc. In a word: Zigbee is the most flexible communication technology and naturally there are infinite Zigbee project possibilities. Projects based on Zigbee can be in any domain like process monitoring and control, robotics, bio-medical, biometrics, saftey and security, AD Hoc networks, WSN, Electrical etc.

For all of the above mentioned reasons we at Ensemble, highly recommend Zigbee for final year projects. For further reading on Zigbee and Zigbee modules do contact us using our Contact Us page and we’ll provide you more information. Alternatively you can always Google for the information! If you liked this article do click on the +1 button at the bottom of the page.

Download Project topics list for the year 2014-15 based on IEEE 2014 papers for final year projects in ECE, EEE, E&I